Armed attack was 'scary situation', says Button

Formula One world champion Jenson Button said the attempted attack by armed men on his car as he left the Brazilian Grand Prix was a "pretty scary situation," and that he only escaped thanks to the undercover police officer who was driving his vehicle.

"The driver was a legend, a great guy, he got us out of trouble," Button told The Associated Press as he arrived at the track for Sunday's race.

The driver rammed through several vehicles, swiftly driving Button and the other people in the car through traffic and away from danger, making sure nobody was hurt in Saturday night's incident.

The attack happened on the same night three Sauber engineers were robbed just outside the Interlagos track, heightening security concerns in the country set to host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

"We got between six cars to get past and got away," Button later said at a press conference. "Looking behind there were two guys with hand guns and one guy with what looked like a machine gun.

"It was a pretty scary situation. It's not a very comfortable feeling, not great."

Button's father, John, also was in the car along with physiotherapist Mike Collier and manager Richard Goddard.

McLaren said it had provided Button and teammate Lewis Hamilton with reinforced armored vehicles driven by armed police drivers who were trained in avoidance techniques.

"We were probably unlucky more than anything else," Button said, adding the assailants all looked "quite young."

Sauber said five men, one of them with a machine gun, stopped the van carrying its engineers and forced them to hand over two backpacks with personal belongings. No one was hurt and the assailants fled.

Button said he left the track at about 7 p.m. local time (2100 GMT) and the attack happened when they stopped at a traffic light about a kilometer (0.6 mile) from the track.

"The driver obviously didn't feel comfortable and stopped about a car length back," Button said. "We looked to the right and saw five or six guys walk out of this building at the edge of the road. They looked suspicious. Then they started running toward the car."

Button, who was sitting in the front seat of the armored Mercedes with tainted windows, said the driver angled the car to speed past other vehicles and drive to safety.

"He floored it, banging through other cars and eventually got through," Button said. "He did quite a job, really did."

Sao Paulo authorities told the AP that they had not been notified of the attack.

No arrests had been made by Sunday afternoon.

Every year local police increase security around the track, which is located in the middle of the city in a mostly poor neighborhood.

There have been reports of similar attacks in the past against spectators and even other F1 teams.

In 2007, a group of gun-wielding youths held up spectators in three cars leaving the circuit, and in 2006 members of the Toyota team also were attacked by armed youth as they left the track. No one was hurt.

Security at big sporting events has been a major concern to local authorities because of the upcoming World Cup and the Rio Olympics.

"Security is a matter for the local authorities and we have absolute confidence that the Brazilian and Rio authorities will provide a safe and secure games in six years time," International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams told the AP.

Attacks by robbers on drivers who stop at traffic lights or slow their cars in areas with intense traffic are not uncommon in Brazil.

Gang members have been known to take advantage of the high number of people attending the Brazilian GP at Interlagos, although there have not been reports of assailants specifically targeting teams or foreign journalists covering the event.

Button said he believed Saturday's attack was random.

"It happens every year, but it's the first time that it has happened to a driver," he said. "It's not a very nice feeling having to come to work in a bulletproof car with a policeman as the driver and two police cars, one in front and one in back, but that's the way it is."

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone downplayed the attack and said it could have happened anywhere.

"I've been coming here for 40-odd years, walking about, and I've never, ever had a problem," Ecclestone told the Press Association. "That's not just for the race, but at other times when I've been here too. I've also never been around where I've seen anybody have a problem."

Veteran Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello said on his Twitter that it was "a shame" that the incident happened.

Button finished fifth in Sunday's race after starting 11th on the grid. The result eliminated him from the drivers' championship. Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull was first at Interlagos, followed by teammate Mark Webber and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.

The last race is next weekend in Abu Dhabi.